Former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the alleged N4 billion fraud the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arranged him on.
EFCC on their X handle arraigned the Mr Obiano before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
EFCC said he was arraigned on nine-count charges bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing, and corruption to the tune of N4 billion.
The first statement of the charge read: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 and March 2022, sometime between February 16 and March 9 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make cash transactions through a non-financial institution by instructing one Uzuegbuna Okagbue.
“Your then Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff to transfer the aggregate sum of N223,371,000 (two hundred and twenty-three million, three hundred and seventy-one thousand Naira only) from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No. 5030050875 domiciled at Fidelity Bank Plc into Connought International Services Limited, Fidelity Bank No. 5540007709 (a non-financial institution), which was converted to the equivalent of $600,000.00 (six hundred thousand United States Dollars) and collected in cash from one Ayuba Tanko and handed over to you in cash by the said Uzuegbuna Okagbue.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The count four of the charge read: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 and March 2022, sometime between February 13th, 2018 and March 2nd, 2022, in Abuja, are within the jurisdiction of this Honourable ourt.
“Indirectly transferred through Mr. Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N1, 206, 760,310 Billion (one billion, two hundred and six million, seven hundred and sixty thousand, three hundred and ten naira only) from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No. 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No. 5600251033 belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated to or unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State.
“Which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: theft and corruption, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2912 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
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However, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.
Furthermore, the prosecution counsel, Slyvanus Tahir asked for a new trial date while he prayed the court for the remand of the defendant to the Correctional Centre pending the proposed date of the trial.
The counsel to the defendant, Onyechi Ikpeazu called the attention of the court to a bail application before the court.
Justice Ekwo thereafter asked the prosecution to provide the particulars of the administrative bail granted to the defendant by the EFCC and stressed that the court would adopt the terms of the bail.
He emphasised that the defendant’s passport and travel documents be kept in the custody of the court and that the Nigeria Immigration Service be notified of the arrangements.
More so, Justice Ekwo underscored that the defendant is not allowed to travel outside jurisdiction without the permission of the court and adjourned the matter to March 4th to 7th, 2024 for trial.
